About Me

Thursday, August 16, 2012

No, you won't find Mr. Kotter, Horshack, Epstein or Barbarino, but you will find Mr. G. You might have to look a little harder to find me if you are returning to Washington, I am in a new room. Starting in a new room is kind of exciting because it is a fresh, new beginning. The good memories from the last room will travel with us to the new room. Now we can create even more good memories in a new space!

I will start back to school tomorrow and I am excited to see everyone next week. New songs, new games and new technology are some of the things to look forward to this year. The parent groups at the Middle School, Libertyville and Washington all chipped in to purchase a new Mimio machine for my classroom. For those that are not familiar with this, it is technology that I can use with my computer, projector and whiteboard that allows for interactive games and activities with my students. We might do races or play bingo or play Rhythm Tic-Tac-Toe or even do some matching games. This puts the technology in the hands of the students and keeps them actively involved.

Concerts this year? The 3rd and 4th Grade students will be having the Spring Concert this year and the K-2 students will be having a Winter Concert this year. Each year the grade levels swap concerts, so this is where we are in the rotation. In the last few years, the 3rd and 4th grade have performed at the Sondheim Center. Again, we will look into this and discuss it at the school level. It is a great place to perform, the only drawback is that we had "Standing Room Only" last year. However, especially in the Spring when the temperatures are getting warmer, it sure is nice to have an air-conditioned facility to perform in and listen to.

The 4th Grade students will have the option to join me for 4th Grade Ensemble, and they usually perform at both concerts. The 5th Grade students will also have the opportunity to sing in 5th Grade Ensemble, and they usually participate in the Winter Concert and Spring Concert with the MS Choirs.
In addition to those performing groups, I will be directing one section of the 8th Grade Choir each semester and expect that they will have 2 concerts per semester.

Last year my blog had some changes in what was posted and how often it was posted. My goal is to return to what it was about 2 years ago where I will hopefully post monthly updates about what to expect for the following month. I feel it keeps parents and students better informed, and it also helps me stay organized.

I hope all of your students are excited to come back and ready to sing and enjoy music this year.